Business
Farmer's Weekly
An inside look at South Africa's meat safety standards
South Africa's Meat Safety Act sets strict regulations to ensure meat quality and protect consumers, covering every stage of the food value chain. Dr Gerhard Neethling, general manager of the Red Meat Abattoir Association, spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about inspections, traceability, and industry compliance.
5 min |
May 02, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Stutterheim hemp producers receive hands-on training ahead of harvest
The Eastern Cape Rural Development Agency (ECRDA), in collaboration with the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) and the Dohne Agricultural Development Institute, hosted a Hemp Harvest Demonstration in Stutterheim, Eastern Cape, in March.
2 min |
April 18, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Escape to Russia
Willie Steyn slipped quietly into the waters of Colombo harbour in Ceylon (modern-day Sri Lanka) behind his fellow prisoners.
6 min |
April 18, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
'You don't have to lock your front door at night'
The Coves estate on the Hartbeestpoort Dam offers residents water sports, walks through a mini forest, a restaurant, and a working farm, all in a secure environment, writes Lucille Davie.
5 min |
April 18, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Blackpool Senepol stud reaches new heights
In 2024, Blackpool Senepol sold a bull for a new South African record price of R165 000. Owner Chris Sheard spoke to Mike Burgess about how he built a stud capable of producing one of the best Senepol bulls the country has ever seen.
4 min |
April 18, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
SA must use the moment of optimism to tackle long-standing challenges in the agri sector
AGRIBUSINESS PERSPECTIVE by Hamlet Hlomendlini
3 min |
April 18, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
The most common mistakes to avoid in broiler production
Most mistakes in broiler farming regard the need to introduce good management practices rather than the need to spend heaps of money, writes
2 min |
April 18, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Blooming difficult: growing finicky orchids for a finicky market
A high-maintenance crop, if ever there was one, orchids demand attention to detail. With over 35 years of experience in orchid production, LVG Plants combines its expertise with new advancements in greener technologies, ensuring its flowers are beautiful allies for people and planet.
7 min |
April 18, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Castles in the countryside
Escape to a bygone era by visiting a countryside castle. The outskirts of Johannesburg are home to no less than three castles, two of which offer guest accommodation, says Linda Piegl.
2 min |
April 18, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Harvesting and curing onions, extending marketing season
To achieve a better price for your onions, it is important to present properly cured bulbs of uniform size to the market, says Bill Kerr.
2 min |
April 18, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Maize virus progress
This article showed how maize streak virus-resistant maize could reduce crop losses.
3 min |
April 18, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
The typical conformation requirements of a top-quality Limousin
In this article, we explain the typical breed standards of the Limousin, as per Limousin Southern Africa and the British Limousin Cattle Society.
3 min |
April 18, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Renault Duster enters new era without diesel engines
The big news around the all-new Renault Duster’s local introduction was the discontinuation of the venerable diesel engines. The Citizen's Jaco van der Merwe looks at how the crossover is gearing up for life after diesel.
2 min |
April 18, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
The best of British hospitality under warm African skies in Mossel Bay
You don't have to be a full-on British royalist to enjoy Betty's Boutique Hotel in Mossel Bay, Western Cape, writes Brian Berkman. There's a mix of good hospitality and service on offer at this establishment.
4 min |
April 18, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Promoting beekeeping in South Africa
Elizabeth Lamond, chairperson of the Free State Beekeeping Association, and Enid Brown, member of the Scottish Beekeepers' Association, director of the World Beekeeping Awards and a beekeeper for more than 30 years, spoke to Janine Ryan about the upcoming honey and mead competition in the Free State, challenges facing the industry, and what can be done to promote beekeeping in South Africa.
6 min |
April 18, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Small yet mighty: farm's integrated approach to sustainability
In an era where small to medium-sized farms are struggling to stay afloat, Charlesford Farm near Knysna is bucking the trend with a combination of traditional agriculture, value adding, and agritourism. Owner Cathy Shearer and farm manager Cobus Erasmus spoke to Glenneis Kriel about their approach.
8 min |
April 18, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Real leaders do apologise
Apologising isn't easy, says Peter Hughes, but it's a critical requirement and essential to successful management. When last did you offer a heartfelt apology?
3 min |
April 18, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
SA's unsafe water supplies: licensing service providers won't solve the issue
The national government's plan to amend the Water Services Act to ensure clean and drinkable water for all depends on local government reforms, writes the University of the Witwatersrand's Prof Tracy-Lynn Field.
4 min |
April 18, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
The economics of cannabis: who's really profiting from it?
Although the cannabis industry has seen incredible growth in recent years, large corporations are still reaping more financial benefits than small businesses and entrepreneurs, says Thomas Walker.
2 min |
April 18, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
The brothers who built a successful farm in the Eastern Cape
Through strategic partnerships and perseverance, brothers Simphiwe, Thembinkosi, and Linda Fani have built Doornrivier Farm in Somerset East, Eastern Cape, into a thriving livestock operation. Simphiwe and Thembinkosi spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about the land acquisition, infrastructure, and financial challenges they have overcome to reach a point of sustainable production.
5 min |
March 28, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
How the Bonsmara changed red meat production in SA
The Bonsmara is a beef cattle breed that thrives under taxing conditions and has the meat and carcass quality required for profitable production. Sandile Nzuza, breed director at Bonsmara SA, spoke to Annelie Coleman about the contribution this breed has made to the local red meat industry since its development in the 1930s.
5 min |
March 28, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
The wise use of water in agriculture
As South Africa is a water-scarce country, it is critical for all water users to prioritise the protection of this precious resource. However, water is also a key economic enabler in the agriculture sector. Magda du Toit spoke to industry experts about the regulated use of water in agriculture.
8 min |
March 28, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
How to fertilise your onion crop
Depending on the stage of an onion plant's development, the farmer needs to adjust the ratio of elements in their fertiliser mix, says Bill Kerr.
2 min |
March 28, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Protecting pangolins is as easy as using WhatsApp
Pangolert is a simple yet powerful tool that farmers and others can use to report pangolin sightings, alert authorities about poaching, and contribute to protecting this threatened animal.
2 min |
March 28, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
The Agrico T1000 ripper: a durable solution for effective tillage
The Agrico T1000 was locally designed and built specifically for South Africa’s challenging terrains, ensuring optimal efficiency and a longer lifespan.
2 min |
March 28, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Communal piglet rearing
Although this UK pig breeder might not have marketed as many pigs annually as he would with a three-week weaning system, he found communal rearing more profitable.
3 min |
March 28, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Is a snap election possible in South Africa? Let's look at various scenarios
With the recent election of a new leader of the Liberal Party in Canada to replace outgoing premier, Justin Trudeau, the rumours of a snap or early election immediately arose in that country.
3 min |
March 28, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Laying the foundation for a good barley crop
Barley can be a lucrative crop if not downgraded to feed. Manfred Venter, head of agriculture at Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV South Africa, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about how farmers can make the most of this crop.
5 min |
March 28, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Schools, communities urged to start home gardens
The Eastern Cape Department of Agriculture MEC Nonceba Kontsiwe recently visited various schools in Ntabethemba and Tarkastad under the jurisdiction of the Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality in the Chris Hani District to promote the cultivation of home-based, community, and school gardens as a means to combat food insecurity.
2 min |
March 28, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Tanzania receives 18 white rhino from South Africa
In a groundbreaking project to protect and breed white rhinos, South Africa recently delivered a group of 18 white rhinos to the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania.
1 min |